Huntaway vs Aussie Poo - Breed Comparison | PetzLover

Aussiepoo is a hybrid breed mix of purebred Poodle and Australian shepherd. If one of the parents is miniature Poodle, the Aussiepoo will be smaller than usual - mini Aussiepoo. We do not know precisely their origin, but we know that this beautiful mix is originating from USA, Australia and Canada.

Breeders can't really know how pups are going to look like until they are born. No one actually can control the combination of the genes. Usually, Aussiepoo is silky-fur playable and friendly dog, and that is always more than enough for Aussiepoo lovers.

The Huntaway or New Zealand Huntaway is a herding dog that originated in the New Zealand sheep country. Their main purpose is to drive sheep and they are not an old breed. They were developed late in the 19th century for their working skills. The only real criteria was that they were black and tan. A dog must win a trial in order to be placed in the New Zealand Sheep Dog Trial Association studbook. They drive sheep mainly through their deep, loud voice.

In the New Zealand high country there was a need for a working dog with stamina, agility and intelligence to work the sheep as a drover (herder). The dog had to be able to handle rough, steep land and work with very large groups of sheep. The sheer area of land that the sheep graze and the dog would have to cover, demanded that this dog have stamina and strength to cover large pasture land and work for days if necessary. Before this the shepherds had used British sheepdogs but they preferred dogs that barked while working. So they bred the British Sheepdogs with Collies, Border Collies, Labrador, Rottweiler, Doberman and other barking sheepdogs to create the Huntaway. In addition to the bark, they bred for stamina and size.

They were participating in field trails in 1870 and ads for them were seen in newspapers by 1884. They became a separate breed in the 20th century. Today they are spreading around the world and are becoming very popular. It is not recommended that they be kept as pets however, since they are true working dogs.

Every Aussiepoo depends on the size of the Poodle that was bred. If the parents are smaller than usual, the puppies will be smaller. Their colour also depends on the colour of the parents, and a litter can have puppies of a different colour. Their bodies are usually very muscled, with strong bones, but if you are not an outdoor type, there is a chance that your Aussiepoo will be obese. They are very active and they need a well-balanced diet.

These dogs are easy to train since they are intelligent and people oriented and you can train them while they are still puppies. Aussiepoo is generally friendly with strangers, always ready to play with children and they get along with other pets and animals. This breed is very affectionate and they like their humans to be close so it’s not recommendable to raise them to be loners.

The Huntaway is a large dog with a deep chest and a black and tan coat. They are strong, big and muscular with voices to match. They herd, head, work the sheep in pastures and force them into pens. They are bred to have that big authoritative, deep bark. They do not yap. Their bodies are well proportioned but longer than high. They have well - padded feet and a deep chest for stamina, along with strong legs and body that allows them to run fast and change directions at will.

The tail of a Huntaway if long, while their heads are shaped like blocks while the muzzle is long and the nose is black. They have dark, round eyes and long ears. An unusually attractive dog, they have dense fur with fringe on the tail and chest. There is characteristics a very large variety in the in the way the breed looks from one dog to the next. Thus they do not participate in confirmation events, as the standard is based on working characteristics rather than appearance guidelines. They are more a “class” than a “breed”.

Children friendliness

Aussiepoo is a friendly kind. They are always ready to run and play with children, and they will tend to keep the children together (genes of the Australian shepherd). They are so playful that they will see no difference between an infant and a five-year-old, so be present if there are small children unstable to walk alone.

Special talent

Except the fact that they love water and that they are great swimmers, they have many agility talents.

Adaptability

Since Aussiepoo is a loving, caring and sweet kind of dog, they will fit in anywhere you take them.

They are super friendly with strangers, and that can be an issue if you don’t keep an eye on them. But, they should never be left alone, or leash free outdoors. They are not so good as a guard dog, so if you tend to keep him inside with stay-at-home family member, this breed if no a good choice.

Learning ability

They generally learn quickly. Therefore, they are easy to train. They respond better to the prize training methods.

Children friendliness

They are very good with children and love to play with them.

Special talents

Stamina, speed and independence

Adaptability

Not really. Don’t do well in small spaces. Better off in the country.

Learning ability

Very intelligent, quick learner, loves learning new things.

Risk of: eye cataracts, hip dysplasia (malformation of the ball and socket joint), epilepsy, progressive retinal atrophy (degeneration of the retina cusing progressive vision loss culminating in blindness), sebaceous sdenitis (an inflammatory skin disease that affects the skin glands), bloat, nasal solar dermatitis (sun sensitivity).

Pelger - Huet syndrome (abnormalities in blood cells. PHA testing is advised with this dog breed. PHA is inherited and dangerous only if both parents carry this abnormality.)

Von Willebrand's Disease (inherited bleeding disorder caused by a deficiency in the amount of a specific protein needed for blood clotting. It can be detected by buccal mucosal screening.)

The Huntaway is a pretty healthy breed, developed as it was from the sheepdogs and collies. They still face some inherited issues such as:

• Hip dysplasia – can cause lameness and arthritis
• Cancer of bone – life threatening
• Ear Infections – long eared dogs are prone to infections
• Mucopolysaccharidosis Type IIIA (MPS IIIA) – rare metabolic issue can cause neurological problems.
• Dilated Caridomyopathy (DCM) – enlarged heart can cause heart failure

Feeding the puppy

It would be great to establish a feeding routine while the Aussiepoo is still a puppy. The best advice is to feed them three times a day, with the last meal around 5 p.m. After they finish their meal, leave them for a while. Make sure to feed your puppy with high-quality food rich in nutrients, and follow the recommendation of the dosage of the food. Avoid cheap dog food and addition meals.

Feeding the adult

Once you made a healthy feeding habit and your Aussiepoo is 6 months old, they won’t need three meals per a day. Leave the meal set for the morning and the one set for the evening. Avoiding night meals is a must. Don’t start any activity with the dog right after the meal. Make sure your dog has plenty of fresh water.

Points for Good Health

Activity, outdoor games, nutritional and balanced meals are the key for an Aussiepoo.

Games and Exercises

This breed is extremely intelligent. Since they are easy to train, you will be able to take them with you anywhere you go. They love to play in the water, but make sure they are not exposed to the sun for too long. They like smart games, mentally challenging, and they will be very playful with other dogs.

Feeding the Puppy

If you are not using your Huntaway to herd, then feed a medium formula not a high protein, high calorie formula. Feed 3-4 times a day and 1-2 cups.

Feeding the adult

3 cups per day feeding twice a day high quality medium calorie food.

Points for Good Health

Exceptional stamina

Games and Exercises

This herding breed has a great need of mental and physical stimulation. They were born to herd and to do so over vast tracts of land in challenging conditions. They need to be challenged. They need daily exercise at a very high level. A Run them every day or take them on a couple of long walks. They will excel in field trials, Barnhunt, agility and rescue. They love to learn.